Dave M Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I am trying to figure out a taditional way of finishing tomahawk handles. I want the handle to be protected and sealed but not to slippery. I was thinking butchers wax or maybe linseed oil but I am just not sure. The handles I am working on right now 1 is made of red oak and the other is iron wood. I have used draw knives, spoke shaves and files to get the shape, then I used a piece of broken glass as a scraper to give them a smooth finish. I also used a torch to darken the wood and add detail to the grain. After all this work don't want to screw them up with a bad finish on the handle. Any advice would be awsome. I think my next handles I will try staining with chewing tobacco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I use Tru-Oil from Brownell's. It's normally used on gun stocks and makes for a good finish to handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave M Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thank you, that never even crossed my mind. I have gunstock oil that I use when I sand my gunstocks to a flat finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 If you're looking for "traditional" colonial America it'd probably be beeswax, lacquer or varnish. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Linseed oil, all the way. Can't get more traditional/colonial than that. Rub in a half-dozen coats with steel wool, and it will truly bring out the beauty of the wood. If you like, put an aniline wood-stain on first, to highlight the cool parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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